Magnetic
Resonance Analysis of the Effects of Acute Ammonia Intoxication on a Rat Brain

Acute ammonia intoxication leads to rapid death, which
is prevented by blocking NMDA receptors. The aim of this work was to study the
effects of acute ammonia intoxication on different cerebral parameters in
vivo using magnetic resonance. We analyzed the effects on ADC, T1 and T2
maps in 16 brain areas. We also studied brain metabolites detected by in
vivo spectroscopy and whether if these effects are prevented by blocking
NMDA receptors. Changes in . N-acetyl-aspartate, T1 and T2 are prevented
by blocking NMDA receptors with MK-801 while changes in ADC or myo-inositol
(induction of edema) are not.